Overland Park

As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 197,238. Overland Park officially became the second largest city in the state, following Wichita, Kansas, after passing Kansas City, Kansas in the early 2000s. On April 13, 2014, a pair of shootings committed by a lone gunman occurred at the local Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City and Village Shalom, a local Jewish retirement community. The suspected gunman, described as a man in his seventies, later identified as Neo-Nazi Frazier Glenn Miller, Jr., was taken into custody.Overland Park lies in the transition zone between North America's humid subtropical climate and humid continental climate zones. The city lies on the northern edge of the Osage Plains a few miles south of the Kansas River. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 75.37 square miles (195.21 km²) of which 74.84 square miles of land and 0.53 square mile (1.38 km 2) is water. Most of Overland park, specifically the part of it lying north of 159th Street, lies within the area of Johnson County referred to as Shawnee Mission. Most people in the city live in the Kansas City metropolitan area, and it is the most populous suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. The majority of theCity lies in. the watershed of the Blue River. Several of the river's tributaries run east-northeast across the city. These include Indian Creek, Tomahawk Creek, and Negro Creek.

History

Overland Park is the primary city name, but also Lenexa, Shawnee Mission, Shawnee Msn are acceptable city names or spellings, Overland, SM on the other hand no longer accepted or obsolete and are no longer used as a designation. In 1905, William B. Strang Jr. began to plot subdivisions along an old military roadway, which later became the city's principal thoroughfare. On May 20, 1960, Overland Park was officially incorporated as a "city of first class", with a population of 28,085. Less than thirty years later, the population had nearly quadrupled to 111,790 in 1990, increasing to 173,250 as of the 2010 census. The city now has a combined land area of 75.37 square miles (195.21 km²) and spans nearly the full North-South length of Johnson County. On April 13, 2014, a pair of shootings committed by a lone gunman occurred at the local Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City and Village Shalom, a local Jewish retirement community. A total of three people were killed in both shootings. The suspected gunman, described as a man in his seventies, later identified as Neo-Nazi Frazier Glenn Miller, Jr., was taken into custody. In the early 2000s, the city became the second largest city in the state, following Wichita, Kansas, after passing Kansas City, Kansas in the late 1990s. Since the expansion, state legislators have amended laws governing annexations to require a majority vote of affected residents in all future annexations over 40 acres (0.16 km²). The city's last annexation attempt, in 2008, garnered widespread news coverage after massive outcry from affected residents. It is now the second-largest city in Kansas after Wichita.

Geography

Overland Park is located in northeastern Kansas at the junction of Interstate 435 and U.S. Route 69 immediately east of Olathe, the county seat. The city center is roughly 13 miles (21 km) south-southwest of downtown Kansas City, Missouri. The majority of the city lies in the watershed of the Blue River. Most of Overland Park, specifically the part of it lying north of 159th Street, lies within the area of Johnson County referred to as Shawnee Mission. It is in the transition zone between North America's humid subtropical climate and humid continental climate zones, typically experiencing hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 75.37 square miles (195.21 km²) of which 74.84square miles (193.83 km²), is land and 0.53square mile (1.38km²) is water. It borders Kansas City to the north, Mission and Prairie Village to the northeast, Leawood to the east, Stilwell to the south, Olathe and Lenexa to the west, and Shawnee and Merriam to the northwest. It also borders other communities on all sides, including Shawnee, Mission, and St.ilwell, as well as Kansas City's suburbs of Kansas City and Kansas City-Lanexa. It has a population of 1.2 million, according to the 2010 Census. It lies on the northern edge of the Osage Plains a few miles south of the Kansas River.

Demographics

As of the 2010 U.S. Census, there were 173,372 people, 71,443 households, and 45,516 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 84.4% White, 4.3% African American, 0.3%. American Indian, 6.3%, Asian, 2.1% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos of any race were 6.5%. The median income for a household in theCity was $71,513, and the median income. for a family was $93,293. The per capita income for the city is $39,319. 4.9% of families were living below the poverty line. The city is part of the Kansas City, MOKS Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Kansas CityOverland ParkKansas City Combined Statistical Area is also based in Overland Park. The population of the area is 1.2 million. The area has a population of 3.4 million, making it one of the largest cities in the United States. It is also the largest city in the Missouri River Valley region, with more than half of its residents living in the Kansas River Valley area. The region is home to the University of Missouri-Kansas City, which has an enrollment of more than 1.5 million people. It also has the nation's second-largest airport, with a capacity of 1.6 million people per square mile (1.8 million km²).

Economy

As of 2014, 71.8% of the population over the age of 16 was in the labor force. Health care, retail trade, professional and technical services, finance and insurance, and information technology are the city's five largest industries. The city seeks to attract technology companies in particular, such as Netsmart Technologies which relocated its headquarters there in 2011. T-Mobile (former Sprint headquarters) is the largest employer in the city followed by Shawnee Mission School District, Johnson County Community College, Black & Veatch, OptumRx, the City of Overland Park, Yellow Corporation, and Waddell & Reed. It was home to the Sprint Corporation before its merger with T- mobile in 2020. Restaurant chain Applebee's was headquartered in theCity from 1993 to 2007. It is also the 3rd largest office building in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area totalling 735,000 square feet of office space. As of 2014 the median home value was $225,000, the median selected monthly owner cost was $1,712 for housing units with a mortgage and $570 for those without, and the median gross rent was $974. The cost of living is below average; compared to a U.S. average of 100, the cost-of-living index for the city is 88.2. The median household income is $60,000. The average household income in the state of Kansas is $50,000 and the average income in Kansas City is $62,500.

Government

Since 1963, it has had a mayor-council-manager form of government. The city council consists of 13 members popularly elected every four years with staggered terms in office. For representative purposes, the city is divided into six wards with two members elected from each ward. Overland Park lies within Kansas's 3rd U.S. Congressional District, which is represented by Sharice Davids. The Kansas Highway Patrol tends to patrol the various interstates running through the city including Interstate 35 in Kansas and Interstate 635 (Kansas-Missouri) The current police chief is Frank Donchez. The Johnson County Sheriff's Office also assists with serving papers and other court documents to people who work in the city as well as patrolling the unincorporated parts of the county and other cities in the county. OPPD has 310 full-time employees and 255 commissioned personnel. However the KHP also does assist OPPD in instances such as car chases, traffic stops and other instances of officer needs assistance calls. The mayor presides over council meetings, appoints members to resident boards and commissions, meets with constituents, and signs ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and agreements authorized by the council. The council sets policy for the city, annually identifies city priorities for the Kansas Legislature and the United States Congress, and authorizes ordinances, The city manager administers city operations and implements policies set by the city council. It is located in the 6th through 8th, 10th, 11th, 21st, and 37th districts of the Kansas Senate.

Education

There are more than 12 private and parochial schools in Overland Park. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas oversees five Catholic schools in the city including four elementary schools and St. Thomas Aquinas High School. The Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod oversees two schools, Bethany Lutheran School (Grades K8) and Christ Lutheran School. There are also two non-religious private schools, Accelerated Schools of overland Park (412) and two Montessori schools. Kansas City Japanese School, a Japanese weekend educational program, is held at the Kansas Christian College. The Johnson County Library serves the entire county with 14 locations, three of which are in Overlands Park. Overland park is home to the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, which is based in neighboring Lenexa. It is also the home of the University of Kansas Edwards, which has an adult campus and satellite campuses in Kansas City and Emporia. The city is also home to Kansas City Christian School's Oxford Park Campus (PK2) and Overland Christian Schools (PK12), as well as two Jewish schools, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy (K12) and Mount Olive Lutheran School in the extreme southwestern part of the city. It also has a satellite campus of the Kansas State University-Kansas City (formerly Cleveland Chiropractic College) which is located in the town of Olathe. It has also been home to a number of other colleges and universities, including Ottawa University, Baker University, and Kansas State Community College.

Infrastructure

Interstate 435, the Kansas City area's beltway, and U.S. Route 50 run concurrently eastwest through central Overland Park. Interstate 35 runs northeastsouthwest through the city's northwestern and northern fringe. Johnson County Transit, also known as "The JO", provides public transportation via multiple bus routes throughout the city. Kansas City's Union Station is a stop on Amtrak's Missouri River Runner and Southwest Chief passenger rail lines. BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad each operate a freight rail line through Overland park. Google Fiber, AT&T, Spectrum, and Consolidated Communications offer cable television, landline telephone, and broadband internet service. Local residents predominantly use natural gas for heating fuel; utility gas service is provided by Atmos Energy and Kansas Gas Service. WaterOne, an independent public utility, oversees water provision, distribution, and infrastructure maintenance. The Johnson County Wastewater department manages waste water collection, transportation, and treatment. Multiple privately owned trash haulers, evaluated and given permits by the city government, offer trash removal and recycling service. There are three general medical and surgical hospitals which provide emergency services. In addition, Advent Medical Center is located in neighboring Merriam. The city is home to several specialty hospitals, including Children's Mercy South, Heartland Surgical Specialty Hospital, Mid-America Rehabilitation Hospital, and Specialty hospital of Mid- America, an acute long-term care facility. There is also a public general aviation facility, Johnson County Executive Airport.

Parks and recreation

Overland Park has more than 1,800 acres (7.3 km²) of park land and open space. The city's 72 parks offer public golf, sand volleyball, hiking and biking trails, playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts, and reservable shelters. Overland Park is home to the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, and Kansas City Kings football teams. The Kansas City Police Department is the city's largest law enforcement agency, with a force of more than 2,000 officers. The police force has been in operation for more than 50 years, and has been involved in the creation of over 1,000 new jobs. It is the largest police force in the state, followed by the K-State Police Department. The K-state Police Department has been operational for over 50 years and has created more than 3,000 jobs. The department has also been responsible for the construction of the Kansas River Gorge, which runs through the city. It was the site of the Battle of the Bulge, which took place in the early 1900s, and is now home to more than 4,000 people. It has been the scene of many other major events, including the opening of the U.S. Mint and the World War II Memorial, as well as the World Trade Center, which was built in the late 1930s and early 1940s. It also is the home of the National Park Service, which has been active since the 1940s and 1950s. In the city, there are 72 parks, many of which are open to the public.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Overland Park, Johnson County, Kansas = 86.1. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 30. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 20. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Overland Park = 4.4 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 197,238 individuals with a median age of 37.7 age the population grows by 15.90% in Overland Park, Johnson County, Kansas population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 2,600 residents per square mile of area (1,000/km²). There are average 2.49 people per household in the 68,664 households with an average household income of $71,748 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 6.70% of the available work force and has growths 0.43% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 34.16%. The number of physicians in Overland Park per 100,000 population = 369.4.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Overland Park = 38.8 inches and the annual snowfall = 17.6 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 91. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 213. 89 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 19.4 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 33, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Overland Park, Johnson County, Kansas which are owned by the occupant = 65.90%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 23 years with median home cost = $211,460 and home appreciation of -6.69%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $10.94 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $4,812 per student. There are 13.9 students for each teacher in the school, 279 students for each Librarian and 373 students for each Counselor. 5.75% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 36.33% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 18.02% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).